Apparatus for generating gas



(N` Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

I N.- M. LANGDON'.

APPARATUS POR GBNERATING GAS.

No. 276,432. Patented Apr. 24, 1883.

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W/INESSES (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sham; 2.

N. M. LANDON. Y APPARATUS-PQR @HEATING-GAS. No. 276,432. n Patented Apr.24,1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

NELSON M LANGDON, OF CHESTER, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 276,432, dated April 24, 1883.

Application filed October 5, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may 'concern Beit known that I, NELSON MILTON, LANG- 3 State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Gas; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe artto which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in gas generators, and more particularly to that class thereofin which gas is prod need by the dissociation of steam in cent carbonaceous fuel, the object of the invention being to superheat commingled steam and air, previous to their introductioninto the fuelchamber, by the heat of conduction and radiation derived from the fuel itself', the superheated steam and heated air imparting their sensible heat to the fuel in their passage through it, thus assisting in maintaining itnormally in a state of incaudescence, or at a temperature sufficiently high to effect the dissociation of the steam and reducing the amount of air required to the minimum, whereby a superior quality of gas is obtained and the expense ot'its production decreased.

With this object in view my invention 'consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in vertical section of a gas-generator constructed in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a view thereof in transverse section, taken throughthe snperheater.

Aisan upright cylindrical furnace, provided at its upper end with a hopper, B, and a bell, C, the latter being depended by a link, D, from a weighted lever, E, which maintains the bell in its closed adjustment. AFlaring oriiioes F, leading from the top of the furnace into the upper generating-chamber, G, are designed to 'permit the introduction of rods thereinto for manipulating the fuel, when necessary. The

- gas generated is conveyed away, for use or storage, by means of a iiue, H, leading out of the said chamber Gr. A cylindrical structure, I, rising centrally within the furnace and cull minating in a conical top, J, incloses the annular superheating-chamber K. The lower the presence of incandesportion of the furnace is divided into three compartments or generating-chambers, L, by radial piers M, which extend upward to the base of the conical top J of the structure I, the said top operating,in virtue of its conical form, to deliect the fuel equally into the said chambers. Each section of the furnace inclosed by the said piers is provided with a tier ot' flaring orifices, M', to permit the introduction of rods into the chambers L for the purposes of manipulating the fuel and breaking down any clinkers which may be formed. Each of the said furnace-sections is also provided with a door, N, for the withdrawal of the fuel-ash. Communication between the several chambers L and the annular superheating-chamberK is established through openings O,forined under the lower edge ofthe structure l. A cylindrical pipe, P, supported on the floor of the furheater, is designed to conveythe commingled air and steam to its upper extremity, where it impinges on Vthe base of the conical topvJ, being deected by the same into the annular superheating-chamber K, formed between the structure I and the said pipe P. A pipe, R,

l provided at its outer end with a steam-jet blower, S, and with orifices T for the admission of air, is designed to convey the said steam and air to the pipe P. The pipe R is also provided with a throat, U, in which the steam and air are commingled, the relative quantities of each admit-ted into the pipe being regulated by the valves V and W, respectively. i

of my improved generator, I will now proceed to set forth the mode of its operation.

After filling the furnace with any suitable carbonaceous fuel, the same is ignited and allowed to burn until it becomes incandescent, or nearly so. Steam and air are then admitted into and commingled in the pipe R. Thence passing to the pipeP,in which they Will rise, being deflected over its upper edge `into the annular superheating-chamber K, from which they Will enter'the chambers L of the furnace through the orifices O. In the transit of` the steam and air through the annular superheating-chamber K they will become very highly heated by the heat of conduction and nace and rising` centrally within. the super- Having described in detail the construction l ICO radiation derived from the combustion of fuel inthe furnace. I After escaping into the chambers L, as above described, they will rise through the fuel and impart their sensible heat to it, the steam being at the same time decom.

1o by the flue H. The ash of the fuel forms more or less clinkers, .which bridge the space between the piers and support the fuel above the licor of the furnace, permitting the accumulations of ash and clinkers thereon to be withx5v drawn without disturbing the body of the burning fuel. The object of admitting airinto the furnace is to support the combustion of the fuel therein, and thus counteract the effect of' the steam-blast, the tendency of which is zo to lower the temperature ofthe fuel below the degree of' heat at which its dissociation is ef'- fected; but inasmuch as the nitrogen of the air impairs the combustible qualities of' the gases generated it is desirable to reduce the z5 quantity required to the minimum amount.

This result is effected in-the generator herein shown by superheating the steam and air, previous to their introduction into the fuel-chamber by the heat ofconduction and radiation dego rivcd from the fuel itself, the sensible heat imparted to the fuel by the steam and air assisting very materiallyv in maintaining it in a state of incandescence.

While my generator may be employed to generate illuminating or heating gases, it will be found to be admirably adapted to the production of gases of' high thermic power, such as are used in metallurgie processes.

It is apparent that the generator shown 4c herein may be greatly modified in construetion without departing from my invention. I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and described; but that I hold myself' at liberty to make sneh slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 5o Patent, isf- 1. The combination, with a furnace, of asupcrheater consisting of a hollow structure closed at the top, and-having a series of apertures extending around-its base, said structure resting on the bottom of and rising centrally within the furnace, and means to effect the transit of commingled steam and air from the base to the top of the superheater and back again, and to deflect it into the furnace through the apertures in the base of the superheater, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a furnace, of a superheater consisting of a hollow structure closed at the top, and having a series of aper tures'extending around its base, said structure resting on the bottom of and rising centrally within the furnace, a pipe rising within and nearly to the top of' the superheater, and means to introduce commingled steam and air into the base of' said pipe, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a furnace, of a superheater consisting of a hollow structureV closed at the top, and having a series of apertures extending around its base, said structure resting upon the bottom of and rising cen trally within the furnace, a pipe rising within and nearly to the top ofl the superheater, and a pipe to introduce eommingled steam and air into the base of the pipe located in the superheater, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a furnace, of asuperheater consisting of a hollow structure closed at the top, and having aseries of apertures extending around its base, said structure resting on the bottom of and rising within the furnace, means to deflect cominingled steam and air through the superheater and into the furnace in the manner described, and piers radiating from the snperheater and dividing the lower portion of' the furnace into isolated compartments, steam and air being introduced into each compartment f'rom the superheater, and the outer-wall of each compartnient having a door and a tier of flaring orifices, substantially as set forth. i

1n testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NELSON M ILTON LANGDON.

Witnesses:

JACOB STRUBLE, GEO. W. HOWELL. 

